Pune: The work to develop a state-of-the-art heliport at Hadapsar Gliding Centre will begin this winter.Minister of state for civil aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol said the process of transferring land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the project was in its final stage and the construction was likely to start by Nov. “The heliport is expected to provide dedicated infrastructure for helicopter operations in and around Pune, improving both efficiency and safety amid the growing chopper traffic,” Mohol told TOI.Sprawling over 250 acres, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) managed the Hadapsar Gliding Centre until December 2024. It was subsequently leased to the AAI for 99 years, paving the way for development of the heliport. The project was announced in May last year.Pune has estimated 18–20 helicopters, both private and commercial. The city and its suburbs currently have around 10 permanent helipads, along with 30–35 temporary landing points. According to the industry stakeholders, a dedicated heliport would streamline helicopter operations and centralise services.Ishwarchandra Gulgule, the managing director of Kaigu Aviation, said, “A single, well-equipped heliport will provide adequate space for landings and take-offs, along with a centralised point of coordination. Considering the high movement of choppers in Pune, the project is very important.”He said the Lohegaon airport is used for frequent VIP helicopter movements. Diverting such traffic to a separate heliport would ease pressure on the airport operations, he said.Pilots supported the move, stressing that operations managed by a government agency tend to be more coordinated and safer. They said the region had witnessed several helicopter incidents in the past and centralised management could help improve oversight.“This should be a priority project of the govt. A fully functional heliport, equipped with fuelling facilities, hangars, lighting systems and passenger terminals, is expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency and safety for helicopter services in Pune,” a chopper pilot said.
